#2 – Ten Top Tips for Reducing Fuel Bills at Festivals

About this fact sheet

Powerful Thinking and The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) have created this Energy Fact sheet to provide an easy action list for approaching festival power more sustainably. The AIF is a non-profit trade association created to represent and empower independent festivals.

Top Tips for sustainable energy at festivals

Some of these tips may seem obvious, but our research suggests that approaching power in a sustainable way is not the norm at UK festivals, and that significant savings can easily be achieved by using the following tips:

1. Have a plan – create a simple 3 year plan to reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions based on the following points.

2. Accurately assess demand in advance by asking users what equipment they actually use rather than what size feed they need – consider whether you or the power supplier will do this.

3. Work closely with your power supplier on a plan to reduce fuel, and reflect this in the contract signed between you.

4. Consider a longer-term contract (e.g. 3 years) to create confidence and allow a strategy to make efficiency savings year-to-year.

5. Use an escalating price tariff for traders to encourage lower usage.

6. Consider alternatives such as solar and hybrid at your event. They may not suit all situations, but they can play a role in cost-cutting and reducing carbon emissions.

7. Use smaller generators and/or tower lights where appropriate for long build and break periods, for offices and re-charge points.

8. Launch a ‘switch-off’ campaign, and consider whether office heaters are really needed – if not, take the fuses out!

9. Ask your supplier to use LED festoon, which significantly reduces power demand and the number of generators you may need.

10. Consider using at least a percentage of WVO (waste vegetable oil) biofuel (currently more expensive than red diesel) which is rated zero carbon emissions and is a waste product.

Recent case studies suggest that by doing all or some of the above, you may be able to save as much as 30-50% on your fuel bill – its been done!